A brief illness has prevented my pursuing our correspondence as I should have wished to do.
As I understand the situation, it is in summary as follows: that the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company has offered to assure its workmen in a very explicit manner that it will hereafter fully comply with the laws of the state in every respect but that it is not willing to arrange for the arbitration of these matters considered essential by the working men, namely, the adjustment of the wage scale and the establishment of some sort of authority by which, in case the law is not complied with or in case grievances of any sort should arise, complaints may be made without detriment to the individual workman complaining. I understand from the Secretary of Labor that the company has taken its final stand in these matters.
It, therefore, seems to me that, all attempts at arbitration having failed, a very thorough investigation of the whole matter is necessary for the satisfaction of public opinion and for the clarification of the issues between the parties concerned; for, of course, this is a matter which affects whole communities and in some degree the whole country. It is, therefore, my present purpose to suggest a Congressional investigation, which, I am sure, will be conducted with thoroughness and impartiality.